Samoa Governor Urges Respect for Small Fishing Communities
With climate change stressing the region, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council has been advised by a top regional government official of the importance of keeping small fishing communities in mind in its upcoming decisions.
“You must be mindful of the decisions you make … so that the interests of small fishing communities are not disregarded,” Samoan Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga told the council in remarks during the opening of the council’s 195th meeting in Pago Pago, American Samoa on June 28.
Although the territory itself has a small carbon footprint, climate change puts the region at risk of widespread food and water insecurity, increased health risks, lack of access to social services and even forced displacements in some cases, he said.
Mauga’s comments ca...